Meet the six Nigerian women selected for the US 2019 TechWomen Programme

The 2019 TechWomen programme, which will run for five weeks, has six Nigerians alongside 100 emerging leaders, converge in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The TechWomen programme is an initiative of the United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The programme identifies emerging women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from 21 countries across Africa, Central and South Asia and the Middle East.

Launched in 2011 with only 37 participants from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and the Palestinian Territories, TechWomen aims to facilitate the increased participation of women and girls around the world in the informational, communication and technology sector, as well as in business.

In March 2018, a 16-member delegation of women in technology from Silicon Valley visited Nigeria as part of the TechWomen programme.

At the 2018 TechWomen, Fatima Abdulaziz Sule, Olayinka Ayo, Safiya Aliyu, Pamela Chukwumeka and Ijeoma Ezika were the Nigerian fellows. And they have gone ahead to launch a social impact project, MAAMI (Mobile Aide Against Maternal and Infants deaths), whose action plan was developed during the 2018 TechWomen.

Meet the six Nigerians participating in the 2019 TechWomen

This year, the Nigerian leaders in STEM participating in the 2019 TechWomen are: Adejoke Adekunle, Eyitayo Alimi, Hannatu Onogu, Oduwa Agboneni, Peace Nnabugwu, Stella Uzochukwu-Denis. They join the list of 28 emerging leaders from Nigeria that have participated in the TechWomen programme since 2013.

During the five weeks, which ends on November 3, 2019, the six of them and the other 100 participants will have access to networks, resources, and professional mentorship at leading technology companies, which will enable them to reach their full potential.

Adejoke Adekunle

Adejoke Adekunle, 28, is the CEO of VVM—a digital consultancy firm focused on Finance, Agriculture and Energy brands across Africa.

Prior to her entrepreneurial adventure, Adejoke was the Chief Operating Officer at Digiengage—a digital consultancy under the Bluebird Group. She has also served as the Content Manager and Senior Editor Jobberman.

Adejoke holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the Obafemi Awolowo University and completed an Executive Education Programme at the Wharton School in 2018.

Eyitayo Alimi

Eyitayo Alimi, 32, is the Founder and CTO of Nectar Hub Software Company.

Prior to her current position, Eyitayo was the Head of Information Technology and Digital Media at CMC Connect Limited. She has also served as Assistant Manager of Information Technology Manager at the International Tobacco Company.

She holds a Higher National Diploma in Computer Engineering from Federal Polytechnic, Offa.

Hannatu Onogu

Hannatu Onogu, 28, is the Business Development Manager at Solar Sister Nigeria.

Prior to her current position, Hannatu served as the Monitoring and Evaluation Support at Family Health International (fhi360).

Hannatu bagged her first degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Maiduguri. She is currently studying for her Master's in Business Management from the National Open University.

Oduwa Agboneni

Oduwa Agboneni, 37, is the CEO of Nenins Engineering Limited.

Prior to current position, Oduwa was the Mechanical Maintenance Engineer of Reliance Telecommunications Limited. She has also served as Service Advisor at Coscharis Motors Limited (Auto Service Division).

Oduwa holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Benin and a Master's degree in Surveying and Geoinformatics Technology from the University of Lagos.

Peace Nnabugwu

Peace Nnabugwu, 37, is the Senior Research Officer at the National Centre for Energy and Efficiency and Conservation (Energy Commission of Nigeria). She also serve as the Country Director of Science Ambassadors Foundation.

Peace holds three degrees, one Bachelor's degree in Physics, one Master's degree in Physics and another one in Guidance and Counselling. She is currently running Ph.D in Solar Physics in the University of Ilorin.

Stella Uzochukwu-Denis

Stella Uzochukwu-Denis, 46, is the Programme Director at Odyssey Educational Foundation. Prior to that, she was an executive officer at Intercellular Nigeria PLC.

Stella got her first degree in Educational Technology from the University of Ilorin. She also holds a Master's degree in Telecommunication Management from the Aegis School of Data Science and Cyber Security.